Ketals of 5-alkanoyl-alpha-norandrostane-2-ones



United States Patent C) 6 Claims. c1. 260-340.9)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to new ketals of 5-alkanoyl-17- oxygenated-A-norandrostane-Z-ones. These compounds are useful as intermediates in the preparation of the corresponding S-alkanoyl-l7-oxygenated-A-norandrostane-2- ones to which they are converted by hydrolyzing off the ketal group.

This application is a division of my application, Ser. No. 483,790, filed Aug. 30, 1965, and now US. Patent No. 3,296,300, granted Ian. 3, 1967.

This invention relates to new steroidal compounds and, more particularly, to new steroids of the A-norandrostane series, new intermediates useful in the preparation of the same, and processes for preparing the same.

The new final products of this invention are of the Formula I:

wherein Y is lower alkyl; R is hydrogen or lower alkyl; R is hydroxy or acyloxy; or together R and R is x0. Among the suitable acyloxys may be mentioned the acyloxy radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than twelve carbon atoms, as exemplified by the lower alkanoic acids (e.g., acetic, propionic, butyric, hexanoic and enanthic acid), the lower alkenoic acids, the cycloalkane carboxylic acids, the cycloalkene carboxylic acids, the monocyclic aromatic carboxylic acids (e.g., benzoic acids), and the monocyclic aryl(lower alkanoic) acids (e.g., phenacetic and B-phenylpropionic acid).

The final products of this invention are physiologically active compounds that possess fertility inhibiting activity. Hence, they may be administered orally or parenterally in lieu of known anti-fertility agents, such as progestagens and estrogens for control of conception, the dose being adjusted for the activity of the particular compound. They also possess antiandrogenic activity.

The compounds of this invention are prepared by interacting a compound of the Formula II:

CN II wherein R and R are as hereinbefore defined and R" is ketal, with a compound of the formula: YX, wherein such as magnesium bromide, lithium or a complex thereof (e.g., a lithium ethylenediamine complex). Although any ketal may be used, the preferred ketals are those with alkanediols, such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. The compounds of Formula II can be prepared as described in US. patent application, Ser. No. 440,311, filed Mar. 16, 1965, and now Patent No. 3,330,851. The reaction is preferably carried out at an elevated temperature, such as the reflux temperature of the reaction medium.

The nature of the product formed depends on both the specific steroid reactant and the reaction conditions. Thus, if the reaction is carried out at the pH of the reaction mixture (alkaline) and an acid is added subsequently at ambient temperature, the Z-ketal group is retained, which can be later hydrolyzed to yield the final products. If, however, an acid, such as a mineral acid (e.g., hydrochloric acid) is subsequently added and the reaction medium heated, as to reflux, then the Z-ketal group is hydrolyzed and a 2-ketone is formed directly.

If a compound wherein R is hydrogen or lower alkyl is used, the correspondingly 17-unsubstituted product is formed. If, however, a 17-keto steroid is used, the 17- ketone enters into the reaction and is converted to a 17/3- hydroxy-l7a-Y derivative, wherein Y is a lower alkyl corresponding to the lower alkyl used in the YX reactant. To prepare the 17/9-esters when R=H, the corresponding 17B-hydroxy products are acylated in the usual manner, as by treating with an acyl halide or acid anhydride in the presence of a tertiary base, such as pyridine. 45 To prepare the 17fi-esters when R=lower alkyl the acylation is carried out in the presence of perchloric acid. The preferred acylating agents are the acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid of less than twelve carbon atoms. To prepare the 17-keto steroids, the 17fl-hydroxy steroid is oxidized in the usual manner, as by treatment with chromium trioxide.

The following examples illustrate the invention (all temperatures being in centigrade):

Example I .5fl-acetyl-I 7 a-methyl-A -norandr0stane-2- one-1 7,8-01 Z-ethylene ketal Y is as hereinbefore defined, and X is an activating group salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Plate chromatography of the residue using neutral alumina (Activity V) as the adsorbent and chloroform as the developing solvent gives a major band detectable with iodine. Elution with ethyl acetate gives a residue which is crystallized from isopropyl ether-petroleum ether to give 48 mg. of Sfl-acetyl-l7u-Inethyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-17[3-ol 2-ethylene ketal having a melting point aout 134-136. The analytical sample is prepared by recrystallization from ether, M.P. about 140.5142.5; [a] +26 (CHCl A 2.93 and 5.92m

T3 5 5 9.13 (s, 18-Me), 9.06 (s, 19-Me),

II 8.76 (s, 17a1\'Ie), 7.88 (s, 5,BCH -C) and 6.03 (s, 2-ethylene ketal) Analysis.Calcd. for C H O (316.52): C, 73.36; H, 9.64. Found: C, 73.42; H, 9.66.

Example 2.fl-acetyl-A -n0randrostane-2 -01ze-1 75-01 Z-ezlzylene ketal Following the procedure in Example 1 but substituting 5fi-cyano-A-norandrostane-Z-one-175-01 2-ethylene ketal for Sfl-cyano-A-uorandrostane-Z,17-dione Z-ethylerie ketal there is obtained 5 3-acetyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-1713-01 Z-ethylene ketal.

Exam pl e 3 .-5,8-acetyl-1 7a-methyl-A -norandrostane-2- one-1 7 B-ol A. A solution of 500 mg. of SB-cyano-A-norandrostane-2,17-dione 2-ethylene ketal in 10 ml. of ether and ml. of benzene is treated with 7.5 ml. of a 5.25% methyllithium in ether solution. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 8 hours and then left at room temperature for 8 hours, treated with methanol and acidified with hydrochloric acid. The reaction mixture is refluxed for 1 hour and the organic layer separated. The aqueous phase is extracted with chloroform. The combined extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Plate chromatography of the residue using neutral alumina (Activity V) as the absorbent and chloroform as the developing solvent gives a major band detectable with iodine. Elution with ethyl acetate gives a residue which is crystallized from acetone-hexane to give 148 mg. of SB-acetyl-l7a-methyl-A-norandrostane-Z one 1 7,8 01 having a melting point about 176l78.

The analytical sample is prepared by recrystallization from acetone-hexane, M.P. about 176-178; -19 (CHCl A 2.82, 5.74 and 5.94%

75 3 5 911 (5, 18Me), 8.92 (s, 19Me),

8.79 (s, Wot-Me) and 7.75 (s, 5B-CH 1) Analysis.-Calcd. for C H O (332.47): C, 75.86; H, 9.70. Found: C, 75.96; H, 9.62.

B. A solution of 150 mg. of SB-acetyl-lh-methyl-A- norandrostane-Z-one-l7B-ol 2-ethylene ketal and 15 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid in 2 ml. of water and ml. of acetone is refluxed for 14 hours. The reaction mixture is concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with chlo roform. The chloroform extracts are washed with 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate, and evaporated to dryness to give 5 ;3-acetyl-17a-rnethyl-A-norandrostane- 2-0ne-17f3-ol.

Example 4 .-5 ,B-acetyl-A -n0randr0stane-2-one-1 7 B-ol Following the procedure in Example 3 but substituting Sfi-cyano-A-norandrostane-2-one-17fl-ol 2-ethy1ene ketal for 5,H-cyano-A-norandrostane-Z,17-dione-2-ethylene ketal in part A there is obtained 5 3-acetyl-A-norandrostane-Z- one-1713-ol which is also obtained by substituting SB-acetyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-1718-01 2-ethy1ene ketal for 5 8- 4 acetyl-l7a-methyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-175-01 Z-ethylene ketal in part B.

Example 5 .5 8acetyl-1 7a-methyl-A -n0randr0stane-2- one-1 713-01 Z-eflzylene ketal 17-acetate A solution of 0.0033 ml. of perchloric acid in 0.3 ml. of acetic anhydride is added to 500 mg. of 5B-acetyl-17amethyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-175-01 2-ethylene ketal in 10 ml. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 30 min. and then poured into ice-water and extracted with chloroform, The chloroform extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 56-acetyl-17a-methyl-A- norandrostane-Z-one-17/3-01 2-ethylene ketal 17-acetate.

Example 6 .5 fl-acety [-1 7 ot-me thyl-A -n0randr0stane-2- one-1 7 801 1 7-acetate Following the procedure in Example 5 but substituting 5fl'acety1-17ot-methyl-A-norandrostane 2 one-17B-ol for Sfl-acetyl-17ot-methyl-A-norandrostane 2 one 175-01 2- ethylene ketal there is obtained 5fi-acetyl-17ot-methyl-A- norandrostane-Z-one-l75-01 17-acetate.

Example 7.5;3-acetyl-A-n0randr0stane-2-one-I 75-01 Z-ethylene ketal 17-acetate A mixture of mg. of Sfi-acetyl-A-norandrostane-2- one-17B-ol Z-ethylene ketal in 1 ml. of acetic anhydride and 2 ml. of pyridine is left at room temperature for 4 hours, diluted with water and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are washed with a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give SB-acetyl-A-norandr0stane-2-one-17fi-0l 2-ethylene ketal 17-acetate.

Example 8.-5fl-acetyl-A-n0randr0stane-2-0ne-1 7 3-01 1 7-acetate Following the procedure in Example 7 but substituting 5B-acetyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-17 3-01 for 5;8-acetyl-A- norandrostane-Z-one-l75-01 2-ethylene ketal there is obtained 5/3-acetyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-17B-ol 17-acetate.

Example 9.-5fi-acetyl-A-n0randrostane-2,17-dione Z-ethylene ketal A solution of 100 mg. of SB-acetyl-A-norandrostane-2- one-17,8-ol 2-ethylene ketal in 10 ml. of acetone is treated dropwise with an equivalent amount of chromium trioxide-sulfuric acid. The chromic sulfate is removed by filtration and washed with additional acetone. The filtrate is concentrated, diluted with water and extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extracts are washed with 8% salt solution, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness to give 513-acetyl-A-norandrostane2,17-dione 2-ethy1- ene ketal.

Example 10.5;8-acetyl-A-n0randr0stane-2,l 7-di0ne Following the procedure in Example 9 but substituting 5B-acetyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-175-01 for 5,8 acetyl-A- norandrostane-Z-one--01 2-ethylene ketal there is obtained 5,B-acetyl-A-norandrostane-2,17-dione.

Following the procedures of Examples 1 through 10, but substituting ethyllithium for the methyllithium, the following products are obtained, respectively: 55-propionyl- 17a-ethyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-175-01 2 ethylene ketal; 5fl-propionyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-17B ol 2 ethylene ketal; Sfl-propionyl-17a-ethyl-A-norandrostane 2 one- 17 3-01; 513-propionyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-175 o1; 5flpropiony1-17 a-ethyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-176-01 2 ethylene ketal 17-acetate; 5fi-propionyl-17a-ethy1-A-norandrostane-2-one-17/3-ol 17-acetate; 5B propionyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-17fi-ol Z-ethylene ketal 17-acetate; 55-propionyl-A-norandrostane-2-one-1718-01 17-acetate; 5B propionyl-A-norandrostane-Z,17-dione Z-ethylene ketal; and SB-propionyl-A-norandrostane-2,l7-dione. Similarly, other (lower alkyl)lithiums yield the correspondingly substituted products.

Moreover, by following the procedures of Examples 5 and the acyloxy radical of a hydrocarbon carboxylic acid through 8, but substituting other acylating agents for the of less than twelve carbon atoms; and together R and R acetic anhydride, the corresponding 17-esters are formed. is keto.

Thus, propionic anhydn'de yields the 17a-propionate and 2. The compound of claim 1 having the name Sis-acetylbenzoyl chloride yields the 17a-benzoate. 5 17a-methyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one 17,3 ol 2 ethylene This invention may be variously otherwise embodied ketal.

Within the scope of the appended claims. 3. The compound of claim 1 having the name 5fl-acetyl- What is Claimed is! A-norandrostane-Z-one-173-01 Z-ethylene ketal. A compmlnd 0f the fQfIIlllla 4. The compound of claim 1 having the name S d-acetyl- 10 l7a-methyl-A-norandrostane-Z-one-l7 8-01 2-ethylene ketal RI 17-acetate.

5. The compound of claim 1 having the name 5,8-acetyl- A-norandrostane-Z-one-l75-01 2-ethylene ketal 17-acetate. R 15 6. The compound of claim 1 having the name 5 8-acety1- A-norandrostane-Z,l7-dione 2-ethy1ene ketal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS wherein Y is lower alkyl; R is selected from the group 3271390 9/1963 Fried 260-3409 X consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; R is selected p from the group consisting of ethylenedioxy and propylene- ALEX MAZEL Primary Examiner dioxy; R is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy J. H. TURNIPSEED, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA 